Weighted Pom-Pom

ABSTRACT

A weighted pom-pom useful for exercise and cheerleading, to provide conditioning and fun to the user.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims benefit under 35 USC § 119(e) of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 60/986,052 filed 7 Nov. 2007, which application is hereby incorporated fully by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates generally to a system of exercise and cheerleading, and more particularly to weighted pom-poms useful for personal weight, strength and conditioning training and/or cheerleading training.

2. Description of Related Art

Generally, pom-poms are bundles of strands of a material such as plastic, textile or crepe paper. Conventional pom-poms are regularly used for cheering at and for competing entities, such as at professional, college and high school sporting team events.

Pom-poms can help turn a stadium into a sea of team colors, and it is aesthetically pleasing to see colors in flowing motion. The colors and the agitated movement of the streamers attract the attention of spectators, which is why pom-poms are standard issue equipment for cheerleaders. Pom-poms are tools to cheerleaders; they use them to gesture, to rouse attention, to make noise, and as dance props.

Despite their common association with cheerleaders and spectators at sporting events, pom-poms are now showing up in the hands of attendees at numerous events outside the sports arenas, for example, in political rallies, corporate events, academic events, parades, theme parks, and circuses, to name a few. In each of these uses, pom-poms enhance the experience by providing enhanced visual stimulation to users and non-users alike, while making the users of the pom-poms feel like they are part of the event rather than mere spectators.

Conventional pom-poms typically include a handle, strap, or other means for the user to hold the pom-pom during use, and a plurality of streamers attached to, and extending from, the handle. Handles may take the form of wooden or plastic sticks, as is the case of most pom-poms used by spectators, may be substantially D-shaped, cylindrical rods/baton handle as is the case of most common cheerleader pom-poms, or may simply be flexible straps made of cord, rope, elastic material, or the like. Other handles include the dowel, spirit, youth, elastic, cap, stick, ring tab, coupon, twist, KAP yo-yo, no yo-yo, baton, KAP handle, no handle and block.

The streamers are typically manufactured of thin strips of plastic or paper material, which are sufficiently flexible to allow the streamers to take a spherical shape when ruffled or pre-fluffed, akin to a ball of flowing strips, when the pom-poms are shaken. The pom-pom streamers are typically of a single color to match the colors of the team for whom they are used, although a wide variety of streamers, from multicolored streamers to shiny metallic strips, have also been used.

The convention pom-pom device is from 3-6 oz.

Dumbbells are also well known, mainly in gyms, useful for weight and strength training. Yet, conventional dumbbells are designed for repetitive curling and the like, and not well suited for use with active aerobic classes.

Therefore, it can be seen that a need yet exists for a more productive piece of exercise equipment that combines the visual and textural appeal of the cheerleading pom-pom, with the resistive weight enhancement of the dumbbell. It is to such a device, and method of using a device, that the present invention is primarily directed.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF INVENTION

Briefly described, in its preferred form, the present invention is an exercise device comprising a handle portion with a first and a second end, and a first pom-pom element connected to one of the first and the second ends of the handle portion, wherein the exercise device weighs over 6 ounces. The first pom-pom element can be releasably connected to one of the first and the second ends of the handle portion. The exercise device can further comprise a second pom-pom element connected to the other of the first and the second ends of the handle portion. The handle portion can be adjustable in length. The device can weigh over 1 pound, and more preferably approximately 3 pounds.

The present invention can further comprise a method of exercise using an exercise device so described, wherein the user warms up with the exercise device, then has a basic chant step while utilizing the exercise device, then cheers while utilizing the exercise device, and then dances while utilizing the exercise device. The steps are not required to be in the above order.

The present invention can also be a weighted baton pom-pom or a dumbbell with fluffy streamers on the ends. The present pom-pom preferably weighs over 6 oz. It can be used in an aerobic or group style cheerleading class as the pom-poms held by the participates to add weight resistance to the movements taught during the class.

When the present pom-pom is held in each hand, it gives participants an added exercise benefit and alternative from the typical group exercise, weight training and cardiovascular class format. Utilizing the present invention better sculpts the body, increases the aerobic workout, and educates the user on the importance of maintaining form while weight training to achieve maximum results.

The present device adds fun to exercising by providing the participants with the feeling of being in a cheer camp or the like. It does this by making the participants feel like cheerleaders by utilizing a popular article of cheerleading gear to accentuate the act of being a cheerleader.

In a preferred use of the present invention, the equipment can be utilized as part of a group exercise class. For example, Cheer Camp is an aerobic workout utilizing three primary formats of being a cheerleader: The Chant, the Cheer and the Dance.

The group exercise class essentially lasts for 45-60 minutes. After a warm-up, a basic chant will be taught to the class, followed by a cheer and finally a dance routine. These three things, once learned, will be performed repetitively during the class followed by stretching at the end. For each component of the class, the present invention will be held, just as a cheerleader holds her pom-poms while performing.

Due to the weight of the present invention and the repetitive movement of the arms, legs and body, this will give the participants an anaerobic workout. Only during the dance routine, still utilizing the present invention, will the participant be in an aerobic state. This unique form of group exercise training utilizing cheerleading techniques in combination with a weighted pom-pom is novel both in the world of fitness, and the world of cheerleading.

This and other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent upon reading the following specification in conjunction with the accompanying drawing figures.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a view of the present invention, according to a preferred embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a view of the present invention, according to another preferred embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a view of the present invention, according to another preferred embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a view of the present invention, according to another preferred embodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Referring now in detail to the drawing figures, FIGS. 1-4 illustrates the present invention 10 being a pom-pom device 10 comprising a handle portion 20, a connection means 30, and one or more pom-pom elements 40 connected to the handle portion 20 via the connection means 30.

In a preferred form, the present invention 10 comprises a linear, tubular solid handle portion 20 that is weighted, and a pom-pom element 40 located on each end of the tubular solid element via the connection means 30. In another embodiment, the present invention 10 has only one pom-pom element 40.

Overall, the present invention 10 preferably is over 6 oz, and more preferably up to 1 lb, and even more preferably up to 3 lbs or what maybe considered physiologically safe.

The handle portion 20 of the present invention 10 can be formed, for example, either by plastic, wood, metal or rubber, being either a solid form or hollow.

The handle portion 20 can include a gripping surface 22 for convenient gripping of the handle portion 20.

The handle portion 20 further comprises a weighted element 24, to provide conditioning to the user of the present invention. The weight of the pom-pom device 10 can be dictated, for example, by the weight of the solid handle portion 20, or by the weight of the weighted element 24, preferably inserted into a handle portion 20 with one or more cavities for accepting cooperatingly-sized weighted element(s) 24. Thus, in one embodiment, the handle portion 20 has an annular cavity for fitting therein a cylinder-shaped weighted element 24, and the user can insert various weights of weighted element 24 for an appropriate workout.

The pom-pom element 40 of the present invention 10 can include streamer members or ribbon formed of cloth, paper or thermoplastic material for durability, for example, vinyl. Such streamers can vary in size, shape, quantity and color. Streamers of known lower cost pom-poms are typically thin semi-transparent ribbons, while higher end pom-poms include streamers that are typically more compact, thicker ribbons. Similarly, the quantity of streamers should be adequate to create the right look and weight balance to allow for smoother agitation of the streamers, although cost considerations may require that more or less streamers be used in a particular model of pom-pom.

The connection means 30 of the present invention 10 can include various methods of attachment of the pom-pom element(s) 40 to the handle portion 20. The streamers can be prefabricated to have a collar member from which the individual streamer members depend. The collar member of the pom-pom element 40 is then placed about the end of the handle portion 20, and secured thereto by appropriate means, for example, by glue, cement, welding, staple or clamp means.

Alternatively, the pom-pom element 40 can be connected to the handle portion 20 via an automated construction method, wherein the handle portion 20 has a thermoplastic crown piece mating surface to which a plurality of thermoplastic streamers are ultrasonically fused. For example, a formed cluster of streamers can be positioned intermediate of an ultrasonic welding horn, and the crown piece mating surface of the handle portion 20, and a means for contacting and energizing an ultrasonic welding head with the cluster of streamers used, so as to fuse the streamers to the crown piece by ultrasonic vibrations.

As described, the present invention 10 in most preferred form comprises handle portion 20 with a comfortable gripping surface 22, two pom-pom elements 40 of plastic streamers, and a connection means 30 to connect the plastic streamers to the ends of the handle portion 20. Further, the handle portion 20 incorporates a weighted element 24 to provide a weight to the present invention 10 not previously provided in known pom-poms. It will be understood by those of skill in the art that the handle portion 20 itself can incorporate a construction to provide this weight, and thus the handle portion 20 need not be a separate element from the weighted element 24.

In a preferred embodiment, the pom-pom elements 40 and handle portion 20 are releasable secured to one another, such that the present invention 10 can be easily adjusted by the user to provide a variety of weighted pom-poms. For example, as a participant gains strength, the present invention 10 provides a convenient combination of elements that can make the equipment heavier, without necessarily buying another piece of equipment. The pom-pom elements 40 can be removed from a first handle portion 20, and a new handle portion 20 can be used with the same pom-pom element 40, to provide a heavier piece of equipment.

In another preferred embodiment of the present invention 10 as shown in FIGS. 2-3, the handle portion 20 including the attached pom can be manually disconnected from the other by means of having the handle be designed with a male and female threading system 50 therefore allowing a single pom to become two separate poms, one for each hand. Also another preferred embodiment of the removal handles is the option of adding more weight to a single pom by means of a male and female attachment to which each male and female portion of the original weighted handle be connected into to increase the weight of one pom.

A tubular design for the handle portion 20 contributes to convenient comfort for holding the piece of equipment, while the streamers on each end provide the participant with the feeling of being a cheerleader in a cheerleading class. The weight of the present invention 10 adds additional resistance for a better workout.

Further, a tubular design makes holding the present invention 10 easier, more comfortable and in some embodiments, gives the effect of using a dumbbell. The streamers interact with the weight element to give the effects of being pom-poms. The parts interacting together give weight resistance to pom-poms allowing participants to achieve a workout while performing cheer, cheer chants and cheer dances.

In alternative embodiments, the streamers are placed onto a dumbbell via a connection means 30 comprising a ‘tie’ or rubber band or elastic attached to the streamer or pom-pom, and then encircled onto each end of the dumbbell making the pom-pom removable. In another embodiment, the poms can be attached to a wrist band, and the band connected to the wrist either by being strapped onto the wrist or by use of a hand glove attached to the wrist band.

The gripping surface 22 can be textured or, for example, a Neoprene coating can be applied to the handle portion 20 of the present invention 10 to limit/prevent rusting, and to absorb sweat. A strap on handle portion 20 can be used to ensure security, preventing the present invention 10 from flying off of a participant's hand while in motion, and also to decrease constant hand grip exertion.

The present invention 10 also includes a method of exercise preferably comprising a warm up step, a basic chant step, a cheer step, and a dance step. In each of the steps of basic chant, cheer and dance, the present pom-pom device 10 is used. Due to the weight of the present invention 10 and the repetitive movement of the arms, legs and body, this will give the participants an overall anaerobic workout, yet during the dance step, the participant will be in an aerobic state.

Therefore, the handle portion 20 can be designed with a strap, and can be covered with tape or coating 22. The poms 40 can be detachable so as to enable the user to easily change colors/pom styles. The device 10 can be used for conditioning in aerobics, health club group exercise classes, tone and firm classes, and all levels of cheerleading. The device 10 can be used by fitness enthusiast, cheerleaders, fitness professionals, and any man, woman or child.

While the invention has been disclosed in its preferred forms, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that many modifications, additions, and deletions can be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention and its equivalents as set forth in the following claims. 

1. An exercise device comprising: a handle portion with a first and a second end; and a first pom-pom element connected to one of the first and the second ends of the handle portion; wherein the exercise device weighs over 6 ounces.
 2. The exercise device according to claim 1, wherein the first pom-pom element is releasably connected to one of the first and the second ends of the handle portion.
 3. The exercise device according to claim 1 further comprising a second pom-pom element connected to the other of the first and the second ends of the handle portion.
 4. The exercise device according to claim 3, wherein the exercise device weighs over 1 pound.
 5. The exercise device according to claim 3, wherein the exercise device weighs approximately 3 pounds.
 6. The exercise device according to claim 4, wherein the handle portion is adjustable in length.
 7. The exercise device according to claim 6, wherein the handle portion comprises two or more handle subportions, threadedly connected, wherein the length of the handle portion is adjustable via the lengths and numbers of handle subportions threadedly connected.
 8. An exercise device comprising: a handle portion with a first and a second end, the handle portion having at least one cavity therein; a first pom-pom element connected to a first end of the handle portion; a second pom-pom element connected to a second end of the handle portion; and a weighted element cooperatively shaped to fit into at least one cavity of the handle portion; wherein the first and second pom-pom elements are releasably connected to the ends; and wherein the weight of the exercise device is adjustable via the weight of the fitted weighted element.
 9. The exercise device according to claim 8, wherein the exercise device weighs over 1 pound.
 10. The exercise device according to claim 8, wherein the exercise device weighs approximately 3 pounds.
 11. The exercise device according to claim 8, wherein the handle portion is adjustable in length.
 12. The exercise device according to claim 11, wherein the handle portion comprises two or more handle subportions, threadedly connected, wherein the length of the handle portion is adjustable via the lengths and numbers of handle subportions threadedly connected.
 13. A method of exercise comprising: providing an exercise device of claim 1; warming up with the exercise device; chanting while utilizing the exercise device; cheering while utilizing the exercise device; and dancing while utilizing the exercise device. 